MINGORA, Sept 16 Sher Mohammad Qasab, one of 15 Taliban 'commanders' carrying a head money of Rs10 million, was captured in Swat on Wednesday, along with 16 other militants. Thirty-seven terrorists laid down their arms in different areas of the valley.

Qasab's is the third high-profile arrest announced in five days.

According to the Swat media centre, security forces arrested 17 militants, including Mohammad Qasab and his son Adalat Khan, during a search operation in Gat Kandao area of Charbagh.

Qasab, who was injured in the operation, was presented before local people in Charbagh Bazaar.

His other three sons, Zahid, Shah Wazir and Perwanat, had been killed in a clash with security forces a couple of days ago.

Qasab was wanted in various cases of terrorism, including attacks on government installations and beheading of security and police personnel.

(According to AFP, military officials confirmed Qasab's arrest. “He was injured during an exchange of fire with security forces. In the same exchange of fire, three of his sons were Sher Mohammad Qasab killed,” Col Akhtar Abbas, the military spokesman in Swat, said.

“Troops encircled him for days,” a military official in Peshawar said.

Col Abbas accused Qasab of personally beheading members of security forces and setting fire to a dozen girls' schools in different parts of the valley.

“He was running a slaughter centre in Charbagh where he himself used to slaughter opponents and security personnel,” he added.)

According to the ISPR, 37 militants, including one Shamakhel and his two sons, laid down arms in Shah Dheri, Shah Dand Banda, Kanju and Bar Shor areas.

Eight tunnels were discovered and three bombs defused in Ashar, Banr and Mangaltan areas. A woman and her child were injured when a mortar shell hit their house.

Muhammad Irfan Mughal in Dera Ismail Khan adds Eight militants were killed when security forces backed by helicopter gunships pounded their hideouts in Paharpur area near here on Wednesday.

Six militants were arrested and a large quantity of weapons and ammunition was seized.

Officials said that several militant hideouts near Lakki Marwat had also been destroyed.